rect way to it. We understood from him
that it was some distance off.

I replied that, as our friends were expecting us, we wished to set off
at once, and that if he would point out the direction of the fort we
could find our way alone.

"As such is your resolution, may the Good Spirit guide you! I cannot
leave my family, and they will be unable to travel for two days at
least." Saying this, he got up and drew a line on the ground pointing
to the north-east. "That is the direction you must follow," he said.
"In three days you will reach the fort."

We knew by this that we had gone too far to the westward, and not
sufficiently to the north. We hoped that now we should be able to make
our way. We were thankful to think that we had only two nights more to
stop out, and unless the weather changed very much for the worse we were
not likely to suffer.

The Indian having done up the meat we had given him, without expressing
any gratitude took his departure, and was soon lost to sight in the
gloom.

"Miskwandib! that's the name of the `red head' or `copper-snake'," I
observed. "What do you think of our friend, Pat?"

"I don't altogether trust him," he answered. "He may be an honest man
and have told us the truth; but he may be a rogue and mean us harm,
notwithstanding all he said."

"He might have shot us with his arrows had he been so inclined," I
answered, "and at all events he did us a great service in warning us of
the poisonous character of the roots you dug up. I feel pretty sure,
too, that he pointed out the right direction to the fort."

Still Pat was not convinced of the honesty of Miskwandib. He was never
very friendly to the Indians, and certainly begrudged parting with so
much of our venison, though ready to do as I wished.

We sat up for some time, half expecting another visit from the Indian;
but we did not see him, and at length lay down to sleep, Pat promising
to keep one eye open, in case he should steal into our camp and help
himself to the remainder of our venison.

CHAPTER THREE.

OUR LAST FRAGMENTS OF MEAT ARE CONSUMED--FORTUNATE DISCOVERY OF A FLASK
OF POWDER--PAT'S LASSO--THE MADDENED BUFFALO BULL--PAT'S LASSO IS TURNED
TO USEFUL ACCOUNT--BUFFALO TONGUES ROASTED--PAT'S "IRISH"--OUR BUFFALO
MEAT BECOMING EXHAUSTED, WE ARE SADLY IN WANT OF FOOD--PAT'S STRANGE
BEHAVIOUR--HIS MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE WITH THE GUN--I GO IN SEARCH OF
HIM--FAILING TO FIND HIM, I AM OVERJOYED AT MEETIN